There are so many different ways to train dogs that it gets extremely confusing for the new dog owner and the dog. What do you do? What is best for your dog? Press here to read my first dog experience and deciding how to train my dog. Below I give my opinion on some common training methods. Thoughout my site I explain the different training methods I use to train dogs. Below I discuss some methods I use and explain other methods which I disagree with using to assist with training dogs. My opinions are based on my personal experiences with using them on many dogs and seeing them used by many dog owners and trainers.

Proper training is training performed with or without the proper training tools to produce the desired behavior.

Improper training is training performed with or without the proper or improper training tools, that worsens the dogs’ behavior problem.

I would be lying if I said halters are totally comfortable or any method of training but something needs to be used to correct bad behaviors like biting. Sure there are more comfortable training tools out there, but what will work best for the problem, is the question that is most important for achieving the proper correction sufficiently. Another words sure you can choose a more comfortable tool but what is most important is the effectiveness the tool has for that particular problem. And from my own experience most more comfortable tools and correction methods don't work much or if they do, it only lasts for a short time depending on the dog. Then the owner has to find another method anyway. The Halti is a very effective tool because it is not too comfortable or too uncomfortable. It applies the proper amount of correction to get the best and sufficient correction to stop the bad behavior. Halters whether uncomfortable or not, don't cause pain, so if the end result is a non-biting dog then that's wonderful to the owner.

Any training to a dog is not going to be totally pleasant either physically or mentally or both but this is necessary to correct a dog. That is what correcting a dog is all about, especially if it is stopping a biting dog. When I state physical corrections, I am not talking about abusive actions. Abusive actions are very improper training and should never be used.

The Jolly Routine is not like the Pavlov method because you are doing training at the same time and you are diverting the dog's attention from its current behavior to another more pleasant behavior. Pavlov tricks the mind and we are not tricking the mind into thinking something untrue to the dog naturally. The Jolly Routine takes what is in the dog naturally and uses an item(s) or a different situation that trigger happiness to train the dog to see the situation to be pleasant.

I'm a trainer who uses food treats or rewards as a last resort because it takes away from the main focus which is you. I feel that food rewards take away from the bond of you and your dog because the dog is only responding to the food and not you. Sure they will obey with food. They'll do anything to get the treat because the food reward is the focus and not the person holding the treat. I believe in focus training through your pure love and affection or rather the bond between you and your dog. This is more powerful than a treat. You want the dog to respond to you and not the treat. To do this, forget the food rewards and start rewarding your dog with your love through lots of petting praise and lots of vocal praise. This is just my personal opinion. If you still want to use it, then go on ahead. You just won't find me using it during a dog obedience training lesson unless all other dog training methods have been tried. However, the use of treats in dog shows and for the pure purpose of coaxing and calming the fearful or nervous dog when not in a training session, is a good a way to use food treats. I truly agree with using treats this way. Some dogs, especially the fearful or nervous dogs, won't have any interest in eating the treat but the sight of it may raise their spirits. The some nervous or shy dogs may not be at all interested in the treats.

As far as clicker training, I've never tried it and won’t. I really don't believe it works because once the dogs become accustomed to the noise they will stop obeying this sound. Well as far as the use of treats with it, I’ve already explained my opinion on this in the paragraph above. I tried a similar method without treats. The dog gets used to the sound and does not respond to it anymore.

My feeling on paper training is controversial. I feel paper training backfires because you are teaching the dog to go in the house or an apartment. This makes it too easy for the dog to feel as if it can go elsewhere in the house. For some dogs it may work, but others will have trouble distinguishing the difference. If you are able to get your dog to strictly go on the newspaper and not on the carpet then good. If you have a paper trained dog, is the dog able to distinguish the difference between other paper and newspaper? I'd like to hear from you if you are able to leave both regular paper and newspaper out on the floor and your dog does only go on the newspaper. Well, if it works for you and your dog then by all means continue with paper training. However, in my opinion, it's overall better to teach the dog to go outside to relieve because you won't have to smell it in the house. It just seems overall healthier for you and the dog to have your canine family member go outside to do it's duty.
 
 

I've tried Bitter Apple and with me it didn't work. Some dogs can tolerate the taste and continue to chew over it. Maybe it is more effective with small dogs but not always working with larger dogs. However, if you find it working for your dog(s) then that's great. There are several things, though, that I don't want to put this stuff on, so I do what I say in my Solving Chewing page.
 
 

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